Sunday, March 28, 2010

****CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Thank you.*****One of the most frequently asked questions I get about my scrapbooking work is what white pen do I use to do all my handstitching and journaling. Trust me when I say I've tried them all, but for me there's only one choice:

The Uni-ball Signo UM-153

Now I'm being really specific with this model number because Uni-ball also has another white Signo out there (the UM-120) but there is a difference. The 153 version is a bit wider. It's a 1.0 ball width so the color comes out nice, opaque and smooth. It's truly a divine pen and now the only one I use for writing in white.

So while the wide 153 is the only pen for me, I do have to tell you a bit more about the Uni-ball 120's - these pens are almost as fantastic and only a bit smaller in ball width (.7). The benefit to them is that they come in all kinds of softer range colors - from soft blue, lavender, pink, etc. So for those of you that love to journal in all kinds of colors, these are the pens for you! Pretty great, huh? But it gets better! (Keep reading!)

Unfortunately for all their greatness, these pens can come with a pretty hefty price tag and even worse, sometimes they are hard to find or hard to find in stock. I've searched high and low for a great place to get my pens and I haven't found any place better than JetPens.com. They not only carry my beloved Signo 153, but they do it at such an amazing price. Because they are a Japanese company, they don't have the import cost and thus really pass the savings on to you. Most US retailers charge around I think $4 for this pen, but they are only $2.25 at JetPens. (They also have COPICS and hard to find extra-fine point pens in unique colors and so much more). I truly love their site and love even more that they ship the next business day AND offer FREE SHIPPING on orders of $25 or more (Shipping starts at just $5 for US and Canada).(Now here's where it gets really good!) Because I love their pens so much, they have generously agreed to give one of my lucky blog readers - that means YOU!! - a $25 Gift Certificate to their site. You could be like me and order 10 Uni-ball Signo 153's ;) or perhaps some Copics or try out one of the combo packs of Souffle pens or anything your little heart desires! SOOOO excited to be able to share this with you!

Simply leave me a comment between now and 11:59 pm Tuesday, March 30th, telling me what you would order from JetPens if you win the certificate! I'd also love hearing what kinds of pens and markers are YOUR favorites and why!

****CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Thank you.*****

Also, if you might be interested in being a sponsor here on my blog, it's not too late to get in for April. Please email me at kelly(dot)goree(at)gmail(dot)com for all the details!

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend!xoxo,k.

P.S. I leave for New Zealand two weeks from today! SO excited but SO much to do before then!

143 comments:

oh thanks so much for sharing!! I have been looking forever for a white pen that doesn't need a double layer to show well - the ones I've tried just don't cut it... i'm using inkssentials opaque white and it just doesn't have a clean line... The ones I use now (but not often as I detest journaling) are by Marvy - Le Pen... Would love to try copics!

Cool - thanks to you and JetPens for the chance to win a voucher! I would definitely spend the voucher on some Copics - I have been dying to try them out, as I see them on a lot of the blogs that I regularly stalk. I have a Uniball Signo 153, and it rocks!

PS - Kelly, I have just seen your sneak peeks for the Autumn Escape classes - they look luvverly!!! Ha ha ha

I quite agree so far the signo is the best I've. TFS this site and I will be checking it out. I've only tried the white but would love to have all the colors. Thank you for this fabulous contest and good luck everyone! :D

Thank you for all the info!! I was wondering what kind of pen you used. Your stitching and journaling always looks so wonderful! Love your writing as well! :) Since most of my pens are Creative Memories and are starting to get down to the end.. I would get a white, black and brown for sure!! I don't have a good white pen, and my darker brown is running out!!

I have a couple of the Signo pens but now that you mention different widths, I'll have to check and see what I have! LOL! Would love to get more and then the Copics that you and a few others are mentioning since I don't have any.

well, i don't have a favorite white pen because none of them i've tried so far work so well...not white enough or too drippy. so i am very excited to give the Signo a try. in other colors, my favorite is the Zig. :)

Thank you so much for posting this...I have been debating on ordering from them as this would be my first order but I have heard from a few people the last couple of weeks by reading there blogs that jet pens is awesome so I will be ordering a bunch of them.Jeannie

I use the Uniball Signo 120, but only because I didn't realize there was an even better one! LOL!If I could have a shopping spree, I would buy some 153's to try out, and some Copic markers, because I hear yhey are wonderful too (just a bit out of my price range atm)Thanks so much for the chance to win!

Comment?? Well, my comment is more of a question...... HOW could I possilby CHOOSE??? I just visited their web site and all I can say is WOW!! I think about one of everything should cover it... of course, in EVERY color!!! Oh, and Kelly....thanks ever so much for the info on the white pen. I have been searching forever (just like almost every other scrapper).

Half way through your post, I grabbed my box of pens to see if I one of my 4 white pens was special... sure enough! I own the Uni-ball Signo UM-153! It is quite nice. :o) If I am selected, I would buy some Copic Sketch... thanks for sharing! :o)

Wow, you're such a doll for sharing. :) I use the same pen that you do, but I'm so excited about the cost savings at this new site. I'd stock up on those, and I see some Sakura glaze goodness I'd grab too. :)

I have some of the Uniball white pens too, but ya know, I'm going to have to see which size they are!Love that I learned something new.If I win, I'll get the bigger size, and some copics....New Zealand????? Fun!!!!

awesome! I love the Signo white pen as well...I have no idea which size I have though. I would get some more in different sizes, some journaling pens, and some of the colored Signo ones as well. cool giveaway!!

OH WOW! I have searched high and low for a good "white" pen also! Thank you so very much for the info and the chance to win! I will definately have to head on over and grab myself a few of the UM-153pens! Thanks again!

Wow! What a great site, thanks for sharing. I would definally give that white pen a try...I have yet to find one that I like and can use properly. Some stardust pens, I have the clear and LOVE it!! Need one of those non stick scissors.A Kuretake Fragrant Ink Hair Brush Pen becuase that just sounds so interesting! And whatever else tickles my fancy at the time!Hope to see my name on the next post! :)Have a great trip!

Hi Kelly. I would love to win! I would order the Pentel Pocket Brush pen for Calligraphy that Kristina Werner showed on her blog this week. It is $12 and I want it bad!! I would also order the Pilot envelope address writing pen. I love pens!

I'm also a huge fun of theis Signo Ball. It's the perfect white pen, I think. If I'd win the certificate, I think I'd buy some Copics. I've wanted to colour Magnolia stamps for such a long time. Copics are pretty expensive, so this certificate would be a great solution;)

That's the same pen I use! I got mine from a Stampin' Up catalog for 3.95, but I haven't checked recently to see if they still carry them. I'd definitely order more of those from JetPens, PLUS they also carry my fave adhesive, Koyuko Dots! So I'd FOR SURE order more of that. New topic: Can't wait until the Basic Grey BASICS kit comes out, it looks awesome!

I'm interested in the fountain pen converters, as I love to writ with a fountain pen. I also love the look of some of the pencils and leds. I use a variety of different white pens, still looking for the best. Thanks for sharing this information and have a great time in NZ, would love to go there too.

Thanks so much for the info on the white pen! I, too, have been on a quest for a good opaque white pen, only to have bought several and not be satisfied with any - YET! :) Love your designs! Always look forward to seeing what you come up with next!

WOW, what a generous giveaway, thanks! I definitely need another white pen for sure but even more than that I would LOVE to try out the copics markers. I have heard such raves about them but have never tried one personally, so they would definitely be at the top of my list.

Have fun in NZ Kelly!Ooo I SOOoo need a good white pen!But I see they have fountain pens and I think I would like one of those also! And I haven't tried the Copics yet so maybe a couple to try ;)Thanks for the giveaway!

I think I would definately order some of the white pens. I have yet to find a great white pen. I always wondered where you got yours so that it came out so smooth and no skipping like all of the ones I have ever found.How exciting. Have a great day.Nicole M.

Thanks for a chance to win! I would probably buy Uni-ball Signo Angelic UM-120AC Gel Pens or some other pen I could use to make journaling easier than what I have now! Best of luck on your trip to New Zealand-I try not to envy people, but I would like to go there one day... :-)

This is an amazing giveaway!! I keep going on to JetPens and browse, but I haven't purchased anything yet. I really want to though! Hahah.I would probably purchase 1 of the fountain pens and 1 brush pen just to try out caligraphy!& of course a couple Uni-ball Signo 153s, I only have 1 fiskars white gel pen that came in a pack and it likes to skip and it's not as opaque.Then maybe one of those puffy paint pens because they look awesome!I think my wishlist is too long! Hahahah! Thank you & JetPens for this opportunity!

You want me to choose what I would order from here? My husband will not like you for sharing such an awesome site. I LOVE pens of all kinds and colors. If you want to get technical about it, my kids will probably never ever have to buy pens or pencils for school. EVER. I already have them all, but could probably find a few more crannies for more. Awesome site. Thank you.

Because of your suggestion (you replied to my pen question a while back), I too searched high and low to see who had it for the best price (Joann, Michaels, scrapbook.com, ebay....). I finally found it at trendyrightnow.com for $2.99 free shipping. I love the pen! Thank you Kelly!!!!If I win the certificate I will start buying Copic markers... I have been trying to find them at the lowest price!!!! I do not own any at this time. Can't wait to try them!

I love all the copics and the uni-ball signo pens as well. You mentioned them one day in an article and I was able to find ONE. Thanks so much for the site, as I am now needing another one. They last such a long time!!

Hi from NZ - you're going to love it down here! I would totally get some of those white pens if I had this voucher as I've struggled to find a reliable one down here. I have some Staedler Triplus Fibre Pens that I love as they come in great colours - including chocolate brown and kelly green- great for co-ordinating the writing in my cards with the colours in my patterned papers etc!

I once had a Signo pen that I loved and lost it at a crop! ;( Though I don't remember the exact version. Hmmm...thanks for linking the site...WILL CHECK IT OUT! And if I won, I'd probably have to decide what NOT to buy, as opposed to deciding what TO buy. I love journaling pens!

My daughter has just been searching for some gel pens to use for a school Visual Art Project and I ended up giving her my white Signo gel pen as we could not find one to buy locally. So I definitely need to purchase some more gel pens soon:)

I am brand new to your blog! I have actually been looking for a nice white pen and landed here. Not sure what I would buy after the white pen.. Other colors I guess. I'm trying to use my own handwriting on pages, which is new for me.

This is a wonderful giveaway. I already order from jetpens and I love how quick you get the product you order from them. I swear if you order on Monday morning you will your order in your mailbox by Wednesday. I order the refills for the kokuyo tape'n' roller. My favorite all time adhesive that is not sold in US stores.

Thanks Kelly for the info on the pens. I use GellyRoll (Sakura) pretty successfully, but who knows until you try something better? I know that Copics are all the rage, but I have not partaken. I would love the oppotunity to order a little Copics stash for creative experimentation! I am off to check out the jetpen site!--Nadine--

Have fun on your trip. I have used the uniball for white stitching, etc. I use a variety depending on what I am doing. I use a very fine tipped pen to make little dots on a LO, copics for some coloring, etc.

Would love to have the pen you have recommended. I have poor penmanship and so having a good white pen for me is important. I hate skipping pens and pens that fade. I would also love to try out the Copics as I have seen several videos with them and they look cool.

Wow- how exciting to be able to get the Signo 153! I would get at least 3 in white and other colors with the $25- yeah! All the other white pens I've tried just don't stand out. I like the black Slick Writer pen to write on pictures and the EK "writer collection" pens for journaling but now I'm thinking I've been "settling" with these all this time!! Thank you for the opportunity!!

I could so use a few Uniball Signo white pens...for home and for work. I teach a leadership class at my high school and we are always doing crafty type things there, including lots of pictures and display boards! I would use the GC on a dozen Uniballs for sure!

I would definitely use the gift card to buy some of those white pens. always looking for a good white pen. I also would throw in a few copics markers - I don't own a single one and everyone is raving about them.

i would call you and say 'help me spend my gift certificate!!!' :) (i'd definitely scoop up a good white pen, and a good black one, too!!) my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD TO WRITE WITH is a sharpie... a skinny black sharpie!! that doesnt work real well with scrapping, though, does it??! if they could come up with an acid free sharpie i would be ECSTATIC!!!!

I would probably get a Uni-ball Signo, some Copics to add to my collection, and a few assorted fine tip pens for journaling. I love pens almost as much as I love paper! Thanks for the intro to a new site. And I hope to hear more about New Zealand - I would love to go there someday!

Thanks for sharing this site! Our LSS can't keep these in stock which is totally frustrating at times, LOL! If I won (after doing a happy dance) I would stock up on 10 white signo pens one for each of my scrapbook group gals!

What a great website! I had never heard of it before, so TFS. I love the Uniball Signo white pens, that what I also use. If I won I would probably order a few more of the white pens and possibly some of the fine Pigma Microns which I also love for journalling. It would be a hard choice!

OMG, this is my favorite pen! I have it in white, silver, and gold! i would just load up on every color, I didn't know they made more. You are so right about never being able to find them and how incredibly expensive they are. Makes me crazy, but so worth the search and money!

I also love JetPens.com, and the signo 153 is my pen of choice too! In fact I buy them in bulk, I think 10 at a time in a box is what I get, then I pass them out to all my customers, friends, fellow scrapbookers. If I had $25 to spend right now at JetPens.com I would get some more copic sketch markers, love love love them!

After reading your post about the white pen, I was so excited and decided that I was sure I would be able to find one around here somewhere. Needless to say I really need to win the gift certificate because there is not a single one to be found anywhere. I would also take the opportunity to stock up on some glaze pens and a few copics. "Fingers crossed"

I would definitely order Copics. I've been wanting to try them for so long and can never bring myself to spend the money. I would also order one of the white pens you love b/c I love to faux stitch, too :)